Meal plan for March 23rd – 29th
Let me just say that I feel like I’m going to be super absent now that t-ball season is here. I took last Friday off to get stuff done, and it is Sunday night and I am just now sitting down to be able to write this post that I usually write Saturday night or Sunday morning.
But, t-ball might be the best thing ever in the history of the world, so it’s totally worth it.
I seriously can’t remember the last time I laughed so freaking hard. Holy crap, these kids are funny!
It was “opening day”, so the kids had a little scrimmage and neither team knew the rules, how to play, or what in the world they were doing. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t know it was going to be that good.
One little boy on the other team refused to run to first base after he hit it; he just pouted himself right off the field. A boy on our team spent about 4 minutes hitting, finally connected with the ball, and halfway to first base, grabbed his crotch and said “I have to go potty”. The same little crotch grabber was standing on third base waiting for the batter to hit. The ball was hit right past third base, and rather than run home, the little guy jumped on the ball and tried to tag himself out.
Jack’s team bats in numerical order based on their jersey number. Jack had chosen #3 (after Russell Wilson), so he got to hit first. His first whack at the ball knocked over the t (tee?), but his second hit went clear out to right field, rolling to the fence. I knew the t ball scouts were paying attention to that one. Then, his team took the field, he was in the “pitcher” position, and the team we were playing would only hit right to the mound. The second crack off of the t was a low pop fly, and like something out of the tball World Series, Jack jumped and caught the ball in a flying leap and landed on the grass with the ball still in his mitt. Where that came from, I have no idea because during their one practice, he couldn’t even stop a grounder. I knew then, the scouts were REALLY interested.
He then proceeded to stand up, look around, and quickly realized he had no idea what to do with the ball. So, like any self-respecting five year old “all star”, he began to dance like a monkey. Right there on the pitcher’s mound.
I have a hacking (five packs a day sounding) cough right now, and was acting as the left field coach. I started laughing so hard and couldn’t stop and was so doubled over trying to catch a tiny bit of air.
It only improved from there, and I pretty much am in love with tball.
Want to know the coolest thing ever? When Jack and I went to sign him up for tball, some time back before Christmas, there was a little girl who came in as we were leaving. She was clearly uncomfortable and didn’t want to be there. I crouched down and said “are you here to play tball? I played tball and it’s best thing ever. You’re going to have so much fun. And you know the best part about tball? You can kick all the boys butts”. Her mom smiled at me, and then we walked out.
Well, we show up to the first practice, and the see the little girl there and her moms. Not only is she on our team, but one of her moms is the coach!!! Her mom that was with her at sign up said “hey, that’s the nice lady who is responsible for you being here today”.
Now here is the best part of this story. While I was standing behind the little girl as a base coach on Saturday, I heard her say to no one in particular “this is so fun”. Made my whole year right there. No one is keeping score, half of the kids didn’t want to run to the base, and no one knew the rules, but they were having fun. Love it. Tball convert over here.
For anyone who follows me on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve already seen these.
I came home on Monday, and Troy and my father-in-law had done this:
And then Tuesday afternoon they had done this:
And then Wednesday afternoon, I did this:
At long last, our room is done! They (Troy) still have to finish our closet, but the room is livable!!! We hosted Sunday dinner at our house to bribe people to help us move out of the cubby to a legit bedroom. We needed the bribe, because we have the world’s heaviest, most awkward mattress. I’m not lying, it is likely trying to move a giant duffel bag full of 15 Andre the Giants. We got it all moved, and the family earned their grilled chicken and homemade garlic bread.
The closet isn’t finished, so half of our stuff is still in bags (most of it is actually in the attic), there are still boxes of hardwood in there, there is trim work to be done, the windows don’t have windowsills, and some of the windows don’t have curtains on them yet. So, no “big reveal” at this time, but just know that I love it more than I could ever imagine. Troy and his dad did excellent work, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to doing the rest of the upstairs. :eyerolling, vomiting emoji here:
Meal plan time! I’m too tired to also do a Grocery Challenge update tonight, so I’ll do another post later this week.
Monday:: Leftover grilled chicken from Sunday, roasted Brussel sprouts, and garlic bread.
Tuesday:: 10 minute Asian noodles, Asian meatballs (I can’t find the original online recipe, but basically mix ground meat of your choice, cilantro, sesame oil, sweet chili oil, and a diced jalapeno. make balls, and bake until done), and fruit.
Wednesday:: Arroz con pollow, frozen peas (we’ll heat them up, don’t worry), and black beans (this didn’t happen last week as we had to make an evening run to Target for a rug)
Thursday:: Dinner at my in-laws
Friday:: Quick homemade pizza, and frozen peas.
Saturday:: Popcorn, and then off to a late night glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt.
Sunday:: Family dinner at my parent’s.
What are you having this week?
I feel your pain on the remodeling project. I’ve done one major and one minor project and they both take WAY more time and energy than you think! Last time, we also did wood floors and we made the mistake of trusting the floor plan for the square footage. We worked all day just to find out we were short one box. I had to drive an hour (the cost savings of using a surplus store were starting to save less) there and back just to get the wood we needed! But it’s done and beautiful now. Lesson learned! 🙂
We ended up buying 10 more boxes than they said we need, and I still feel like it won’t be enough. Eeeek! Glad your project is finally behind you and beautiful!
Monday. Burgers on the grill. Roasted potatoes with lime-mayonnaise dip (to use the limes from a weekend supper). Sliced avocado on the side.
Tuesday. Asparagus, Barlauch (wild garlic) and Burrata flatbreads. ‘Tis asparagus and barlauch season here in Austria! Yay!
Wednesday. Whole fish on the grill (The grocery offers 10% discounts on Wednesday) with asparagus strudel. Did I mention it’s asparagus season here?
Thursday. Handmade ground chicken and lemongrass wontons in garlic-ginger broth.
Friday. Dinner at the local heuriger (wine tavern) because nothing beats their Backhendl (fried chicken) and their garden setting. Or their wine. 😉
That sounds super delicious! Do you have recipes?
For the wontons I use prepared wrappers and fill with (uncooked) ground chicken that’s been seasoned with finely diced scallions and lemongrass, and a dash of soy sauce and fish sauce to taste. 400g of ground chicken will make approximately 30 wontons. You can either steam them separately or simmer gently in the broth.
For the strudel I use thin-sliced uncooked asparagus and diced Barlauch, mixed with mascarpone or ricotta; here in Austria strudel dough is a considered a basic grocery item and can be found pretty much everywhere and in all sizes. I usually roll the strudel wrap-style before baking rather than just folding it over because that is our preference, and when it’s sliced the presentation is pretty, too.
I have a question for you about that skillet you were raving about. Does it stay level/flat when you cook? I haven’t had one that would after a certain amount of usage and I’m tired of replacing them after a year or so. I have to replace one soon and I want something better for the money. It’s something I use every morning to make breakfast and sometimes for other meals, so it’s an important part of my day! I definately don’t want any more teflon, though I love them at first use, they generally start to flake after awhile so I’m going to stop using them.
You must be referring to our cast iron skillets? Yep, they stay flat and don’t flake anything. I won’t use Teflon anymore because they only last a few years, and studies are showing the flakes are not so good for you! I get the cast iron at Goodwill and restore them.
I was thinking there was a stainless steel skillet you liked, but must have seen it on another blog? I love cast iron, but I can’t use it! My wrists and hands are going and it’s too much to lift anymore, pathetic, I know. I have good arm muscles, but because I’m short it’s hard to lift heavy things at the height most stoves are for me. I think I’ve lost about two inches in the last ten years or so, and I was only 5’2″ to start with!
Yes there is one from Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-722-20-Classic-Stainless-Skillet/dp/B00008CM6A/ref=pd_sim_k_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VQ0VBVEQ50DFM46V6W5
The floor looks beautiful! They really did a great job!
I was lazy this past week and not motivated to do much of anything. I was like the anti-Sarah. The weather was gorgeous and I had some good library books to read, what can I say?
We had leftovers one night and Greg and our son had Subway one night when I didn’t feel like cooking and they didn’t want anything we had on hand (I sacrificed myself and had the rest of the leftovers). The good news is that I barely have anything to buy for this upcoming week’s menu since I have to use up the veggies that I didn’t use up last week 🙂 http://imperfectlyfrugally.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-my-fridge-dinner-plans_22.html
Ohhh, reading anything fun? I love the idea of finding a sunny spot and curling up with a great book.
I read “Her” by Hariett Lane and “The Girl on The Train” by Paula Hawkins (both fiction and both disturbing) and I really enjoyed both. Last week I read “Word Gone Bad” by Dennis Lehane and I really enjoyed that one as well. It’s another fiction book. I like fiction better than non-fiction.